Archive for category: Laser Vein Treatment

An estimated 30%-60% of adults in the U.S. have varicose veins or spider veins. Varicose veins are large, raised, twisted blood vessels. They appear swollen and make their appearance in the legs. Spider veins are red, purple, and blue blood vessels that also twist, but are much smaller. Spider veins can show up in the face or legs. Both types of veins are visible underneath he skin. Let’s discuss the risk factors associated with varicose veins and spider veins.

Conditions that create a large amount of pressure in the abdomen like constipation, tumors, and girdles

Jobs that include prolonged standing like nurses, teachers, factory workers, and hair stylists

Damage or trauma to the skin, exposure to ultraviolet rays, or previous vein surgery

Varicose veins and spider veins are more common in women than men. As we age, these veins can increase in amount.

The symptoms

Many individuals with varicose veins describe feelings of pain, aching, and cramping in the legs. Additional symptoms are restlessness, fatigue, and a throbbing or heaviness in the legs. For women, symptoms can feel worse during certain times in their menstrual cycle or pregnancy. Swelling, ulcers, and darkened skin have also been reported as symptoms, but these are less common. Varicose veins can also create a condition called thrombophlebitis, an inflamed blood clot in the leg.

How to treat varicose veins and spider veins

At Aura Skin Spa, we offer laser treatment to reduce veins on the face, legs, or other areas of the body. Vascular vein treatment delivers pulses of energy that make the blood within the vein coagulate. This will destroy the blood vessel, allowing it to be absorbed into the body. Blood flow is then forced to take a different route through more healthy veins.

Schedule a consultation

If you have any of the risk factors associated with varicose veins or spider veins, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Aura Skin Spa today. You can reach us at (415) 788-3800 at our office in San Francisco, California.

Varicose veins are a common condition characterized by bulging bluish veins that are visible just beneath the skin. Spider veins, or areas of swollen capillaries, are the superficial version of varicose veins. Varicose veins are usually safe but can cause tenderness, itchy skin, and swelling in the legs and feet. In severe cases, they may point to possible sites where blood clots may develop.

Women are twice as likely as men to develop varicose veins and 23% of Americans have them. What causes such a common and often painful condition? Ailments or conditions that place extreme weight on the abdomen or legs can result in varicose veins.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the uterus will expand putting a strain on a particular vein on the right side of the body called the inferior vena cava. This, in turn, puts pressure on the veins in the legs. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may also contribute to the development of varicose veins. If varicose veins form during pregnancy, they normally improve within the year after delivery.

Obesity: Obesity can result in high blood pressure, which can cause undue strain on the legs. This excessive burden can lead to ulcers and skin alteration around the ankles.

Chronic constipation: The Western diet is largely missing fiber rich foods. Overtime, the strain needed to move fiber deficient stools is so significant that there is an enormous amount of pressure placed on veins in the legs. The blood valves become slack and are unable to sustain blood movement, resulting in varicose veins.

Family history: If you have a history of varicose veins in your family, you may likely develop them as well.

Being sedentary: Standing or sitting for a long time is a notable risk factor for developing varicose veins. Without regular movement, blood cannot flow throughout your legs as well.

Age: Age will naturally cause the efficiency of blood valves to diminish. As valves are less able to control the flow of blood, some blood will accumulate in the veins instead of being pushed toward the heart.

For more information on how to treat varicose veins, contact Aura Skin Spa at 415-788-3800.

For the past several months, your jeans and sweat pants have been helping you hide a problem – your varicose and spider veins. But it’s almost time for your legs to make their warm weather appearance, and the idea might have you alarmed. We can help.

Shorts weather is right around the corner. Your legs can be ready

You don’t have to live with unsightly leg veins. At Aura, we can provide safe and effective treatment that can reduce and even eliminate unwanted spider and varicose veins.

Our laser system can be used to treat a wide range of leg veins

We can treat everything from superficial spider to deeper varicose veins. The procedure is fairly quick, virtually painless (a stinging or snapping sensation) and requires little to no down time. You can likely resume all your normal activities immediately and only need to avoid rigorous activities for about 24 hours after treatment.

The laser delivers pulses of light energy

This causes the blood within the treated vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel. Over time, your body will reabsorb it. Our laser treatments can be used for:

Small, facial veins (telangiectasia)

Spider veins on the legs

Large blue veins on the legs

Almost any area of the body

Laser vein treatments take about 15 minutes per visit

The number of sessions required can vary, depending on:

Number of veins being treated

Number of areas being treated

Color of veins being treated

Size of vessels being treated

One to two laser sessions are usually sufficient, and individual results will vary.

See results by summer

Most of our patients report that their veins show significant improvement after about two to six weeks post procedure. For some, it can take several months. That’s why this is an ideal time to start getting rid of unwanted veins, just in time for summer clothing and activities.

Get a free evaluation

Our board certified physicians can examine your unwanted veins to help determine which veins can be treated and the right treatment plan for you. Call for your evaluation appointment today: (415) 788-3800.

Maybe “treatment” is too nice a word when it comes to what lasers can do to your unwanted veins. The procedure is designed to vanquish unsightly veins just about anywhere you have them. Laser vein treatments are most commonly performed on the face and the legs, but our system can be used to reduce veins anywhere on the body, including:

Face

Forehead

Nose

Temples

Legs

Ankles

Feet

Hands

Laser vein treatments are safe and effective

Unsightly veins can be the result of heredity, weight gain, hormonal changes, skin problems and aging. The procedure can reduce and eliminate everything from the smallest spider veins to larger, deeper reticular veins. Those are the dilated blue and green feeder veins beneath the skin surface that can become enlarged from increased pressure. And reticular veins can often be the cause of spider veins.

The power of pulse energy

Aura uses a laser system to deliver pulses of energy to your unwanted veins. The pulse of energy can be felt as a slight stinging sensation as the blood in the vein begins to coagulate and the vessel is destroyed. But don’t worry:

Blood flow will be redirected to deeper veins (less visible on the skin’s surface)

Pain is minimal

Treatment lasts only about 15 minutes per session

Some redness and bruising should be your only side effects

Larger veins may result in brownish pigment, but will resolve in time

Normal activities can resume immediately

Your legs can be ready for your (late) summer vacation

Most of our patients are able to see results within two to six weeks following treatment, with the majority of the treated veins showing significant improvement. Of course, everyone is different, and your final results may vary.

Make an appointment for a free evaluation

We will examine your troublesome veins to help determine if laser vein therapy is right for you. We will put together a treatment plan, and based on the number, color and size of the veins you wish to treat, we can tell you how many sessions will be required for the best outcome. Call today: (415) 788-3800.

When it comes to making us look and feel better, seems like there’s nothing that lasers can’t do: surgical procedures, tattoo removal, wrinkle smoothing, teeth whitening – the list goes on. Since the time when lasers were developed for use in defense and industry, about 55 years ago, they have found their way into practically every kind health care procedure – from life saving to aesthetic.

Lasers can make medical procedures less invasive and less painful

The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and it works by delivering energy in the form of light. But unlike most light sources, laser light focuses on a small, precise area, causing less damage to surrounding tissue during a procedure. That means less scaring, swelling and pain.

Lasers can help you get rid of spider and varicose veins

The heat of the laser light actually damages the unwanted vein, causing scar tissue to form. The scar tissue closes up the vein, so it loses its blood source and dies. Over time, the damaged vein is absorbed by the body and should disappear.

Laser vein treatments are non-invasive and require no down time

The procedure for simple laser vein treatment is performed on the outside of your skin, but it treats the spider and varicose veins under your skin. Several treatments can be necessary over a few months, depending on the size and number of areas treated. The procedure is done in the office, and you will be able to return to your normal daily activities immediately after.

Lasers aren’t just for leg veins

Patients come to Aura hoping to get rid of unwanted leg veins and more. We also use lasers to treat veins on the face — or anywhere on the body. We can help you eliminate everything from tiny superficial veins to deeper blue veins.

Find out what lasers can do for your legs – and the rest of you

Make an appointment for a free evaluation to help make sure that you can achieve the best outcome for your unique vein issues. Call us today: (415) 788-3800.